Suction head



June 30, 1942. B. R. SAMMONS SUCTION HEAD Filed Dec. 20, 1941 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor BEMMM/IY Z? Sam/news June 30, 1942.- B. R; SAMMONS SUCTION HEAD 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1941 Inventor iatented June 30, 1942 SUCTION HEAD Benjamin Ray Sammons, Atlanta,

Ga., assignor of one-half to The Atlanta Envelope 'Co., At

lanta, Ga.

Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,827

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for feeding blank envelopes, either regular or window, into the drier conveyor of the commercially known Smithe Wide Range Envelope Machines, and more particularly to suction heads for such machines.

The invention, together with its advantages and the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating my improved suction head applied,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the suction head,

Figure 3 is a view-in rear elevation,

Figure 4 is a view in vertical central section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a modification of the invention,

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of said modification, and

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the suction control key.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, my invention has been shown therein as forming part of the equipment of a well known type of window envelope making machine embodying as elements thereof a front gum applying cylinder I spaced peripherally forwardly of an idler pulley 2, a perforated bent conveyor 3 trained around said cylinder I and pulley 2 and for conveying around said cylinder I the usual blanks 4 which are gummed by the cylinder through the conveyor for subsequent transfer to a drier conveyor. The blanks 4 are held to the conveyor 3 as they travel around the cylinder I by an overhead endless belt I trained around rollers 2', and also by idler rollers 3 opposed to the conveyor 3 and spaced around the same. The blanks 4 are fed into the machine by the belt and roller unit 4' coacting with the belt I and one of the rollers 2. Below the conveyor 3' is a chain-type .drier conveyor 5 trained at its front end over a, sprocket wheel 6 located directly beneath the cylinder I and having a top stretch inclining downwardly and rearwardly. The drier conveyor 5 is provided with clips I arranged to grip or clamp the trailing edges of the blanks 5 as they pass around the bottom of the cylinder l to attach said trailing edges to said drier conveyor. The speed of travel of the drier conveyor 5 is the same as that of the conveyor 3. A presser plate overlies the top stretch of the conveyor 3 intermediate the cylinder I and the pulley 2 for a function which will be apparent, said plate being mounted on an upstanding bracket 9 bolted, as at ID, to a frame structure II extending forwardly from the journal of the idler pulley 2 and pivotally mounted thereon, said frame structure including immediately in therear of the gum applying cylinder I a horizontal, forwardly extending bar I2 overlying the lower stretch of the conveyor 3.

Coming now to my improvements, suitably secured, as by bolts I3, to the under side of the bar I2 is a block-like suction head I4 of elongated, transversely rectangular, form extending longitudinally along the under side of said bar I2 with the top face flush therewith and its bottom resting lengthwise on the top of the lower stretch of the conveyor 3 parallel with said stretch, said head having an oblique front end I5 spaced close to the periphery of said cylinder I in the rear thereof, and a cap plate I6 suitably fixed to said end I5.

The bottom of the head I4 is provided with a pair of side ribs II between which the conveyor 3- iits and runs. A longitudinally extending slot I8 is provided in the head I4 in the vertical longitudinal center thereof and which is open at its rear end, closed at the front end thereof by the cap plate I6, and opening into the bottom of the head I4 throughout the length of the latter, said slot being of keyhole form transversely to provide an upper transversely rounded flat portion and a subjacent, straight walled bottom, reduced portion, all for a purpose presently seen.

A tubular suction control key I9 is slidably fitted in the slot I8 for endwise adjustment into different set positions and extended at its rear end out of the rear of .said slot, said key having a depending front end, flat key lug 20 slidably fitted in the reduced portion of the slot I8 and depending to the bottom of said reduced portion. A hand screw 20 threaded into one side of the head I4 adjacent the rear end of the latter provides for turning of the same against said key I9 toestablish the different set positions thereof.

A lateral, rear end extension 2I is provided on the key I9 to which is suitably connected, as at 22, one end of a flexible suction line 23.

As will now be seen, the slot I8 in front of the key I9 forms a suction chamber opening onto the top of the bottom stretch of the conveyor 3,

which chamber may be lengthened or shortened by variably setting the key l9 endwise.

In the operation of the described parts, the blanks 4 are conveyed, in a manner which will be understood, around the gum applying cylinder I by the conveyor 3 and gummed by said cylinder through said conveyor. As the leading edge of each gummed blank 4 travels rearwardly beneath the cylinder l past the vertical center of said cylinder, the key l9 being appropriately set, the suction in the slot I8 in frontof the key l9 draws said leading edge and following portions of the blank up against the lower stretch of the conveyor 3 so that the trailing edge of the blank 4 may drop onto the conveyor to be clamped by a clip 1 to the drier conveyor 5. As will be seen, as soon as the blank 4 travels tokey lug 26, the suction is broken and the blank released. Obviously, by setting the key l9 to vary the position of the lug 20, the point of release of the blanks 4 may be varied in accordance with operating requirements, as, for instance, in operating with blanks of different sizes.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 6, for very thin blanks 4 a pair of longitudinally slotted stripper bars 25 are provided upon opposite sides of the head, designated in this instance 25, to extend along the lower side edges of the same and straddle the lower stretch of the conveyor 3, said bars having beveled front ends 28 for stripping said blanks from the conveyor after the suction is released. The stripper bars 24 are adjustable endwise on the head 25 by means of screws 21 extending through the slots in the bars into the head whereby the ends 26 of said bars may be adjusted opposite the key lug 23 to strip the blanks simultaneously with release of the latter.

The described invention prevents the blanks 4 from dropping away completely from the conveyor 3, is operative efficiently with any size blank, and provides for varying the point of re- .lease as occasion may require quickly and easily. Further, friction between the head and conveyor 3 is reduced to a minimum thereby obviating wear on the conveyor, and the head need not be elevated or lowered in changing to different sizes of blanks t. The head is formed of steel and the key of brass so that these elements are durable and frequent replacement thereof is unnecessary.

Another advantage of this part is that it facilitates .the running of all Weight papers, handling light as well as heavy paper.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suifice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a'machine of the class described, the

the

combination with a gum applying cylinder, a perforated conveyor belt for transporting blanks to be gummed around said cylinder downwardly and rearwardly and having a lower stretch extending horizontally rearwardly of said cylinder, of means to hold the leading edges of such blanks to the under side of said stretch comprising a block-like elongated suction head mounted above said lower stretch to extend lengthwise rearwardly from said cylinder with its bottom resting on said stretch, said head having a longitudinal central slot extending therethrough closed at its front end and opening at its bottom onto said stretch, and means to attach a suction line to said head to create suction in said slot, said means including a member closing the rear end of the slot and adjustable therein into different set positions to vary the length of the slot.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gum applying cylinder, a perforated conveyor belt for transporting blanks to be gummed around said cylinder downwardly and rearwardly and having a lower stretch extending horizontally rearwardly of said cylinder, of

' means to hold the leading edges of such blanks to the under side of said stretch comprising a block-like elongated suction head mounted above said lower stretch to extend lengthwise rearwardly from said cylinder with its bottom resting on said stretch, said head having a longitudinal central slot extending therethrough closed at its front end and opening at its bottom onto said stretch and means to attach a suction line to said head to create suction in said slot, said means including a member closing the rear end of the slot and adjustable therein into different set positions to vary the length of the slot, said slot being of keyhole form transversely and said member comprising a tubular suction control key slidable in said slot and having a flat key lug depending in the slot.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gum applying cylinder, a perforated conveyor belt for transporting blanks to be gummed around said cylinder downwardly and rearwardly and having a lower stretch extending horizontally rearwardly of said cylinder, of means to hold the leading edges of such blanks to the under side of said stretch comprising a block-like elongated suction head mounted above said lower stretch to extend lengthwise rearwardly from said cylinder with its bottom resting on said stretch, said head having a longitudinal central slot extending therethrough closed at its front end and opening at its bottom onto said stretch, means to attach a suction line to said head to create suction in said slot, said means including a member closing the rear end of the slot and adjustable therein onto different set positions to vary the length of the slot, and means on said block for stripping the blanks from the bottom of said lower stretch.

BENJAMIN RAY 'SAMMON S. 

